AD-69 candidate Francisco Barragan is one of those people you meet who simply redefines the term “class act.” He is honest, principled, of high moral and ethics. As much as a lack of funds, organization, party structure make him a long shot for the Assembly seat he seeks, Barragan’s voice is finally being heard in this race and it’s directed at Santa Ana council member and fellow AD-69 candidate Michele Martinez.
Barragan issued the following email to his extensive email list of recipients this morning and we wonder if the Santa Ana City Council will pay heed to his message tonight:
To ALL:
As reported in the objective and well written article by Chris Prevatt, at The Liberal OC, the Santa Ana council May Repeal Campaign Finance Ordinance this Monday night May 7th, even after several members like Michelle Martinez and Sal Tinajero have accepted $thousands of dollars in campaign contributions and then voted immediately to favors these donors in violation of state and local law.
(my disclosure – I running for State Assembly 69th AD, to bring solutions and improvements to higher education, job creation, public safety, access to healthcare, and pension reform)
1) How can supporters of Michelle Martinez attach their name and credibility to her Assembly campaign if Michele Martinez is violating the law, or proposing less citizen oversight and less citizen control over elected officials and their actions, and continued higher taxes on Santa Ana’s small businesses through the unconstitutional PBID. • What negative message does that send out to the larger community in Orange County about Latinos/Hispanics & Mexican-Americans accepting illegal and unethical behavior of elected officials, since Santa Ana is an All Latino city council? • What harmful message does that send to our youth in our community? • Are citizens and residents in Santa Ana apathetic because they are powerless, or are they powerless because they are apathetic? And how much does acceptance of this type of behavior contribute to this apathy and powerlessness? What is or should be our responsibility as community leaders to change this? • What is the responsibility of the Santa Ana City Council to bring greater transparency, disclosure and accountability? • We should all realize that nothing will change if we ourselves don’t change our acceptance of this type of behavior. 2) In a democracy, we may all disagree on policy decisions and must accept the outcome if constitutionally sound; however, we should never accept unethical or illegal behavior from an elected official or a body of elected officials.
LINKS: Pay-to-Play Returns: Santa Ana Council May Repeal Campaign Finance Ordinance May 4, 2012 https://theliberaloc.com/2012/05/04/pay-to-play-returns-santa-ana-council-may-repeal-campaign-finance-ordinance/
Should Voters Care About the Personal Finances of AD-69 Candidates Perez and Martinez? May 2, 2012 (SEE ME COMMENTS there) https://theliberaloc.com/2012/05/02/should-voters-care-about-the-personal-finances-of-ad-69-candidates-perez-and-martinez/comment-page-1/#comment-75505
“Santa Ana City Councilwoman Michele Martinez broke the city law governing campaign contributions when she took $500 from Naranjo Landscape shortly after voting to approve a city contract with the company, Shirley Grindle, Orange County campaign finance watchdog, said last week.” February 15, 2012 http://www.voiceofoc.org/countywide/this_just_in/article_5f62ecbc-56b0-11e1-93d3-001871e3ce6c.html
— Francisco J. Barragan – aka “Paco” For State Assembly 2012 – 69th AD Accountant, Businessman, Auditor Business, Veterans and Community leader creating opportunities for others and advocating and implementing solutions for education, job creation, and supporting victims of domestic violence and human trafficking OC Register Voter’s Guide – Francisco Barragan.
While Barragan may not emerge in the top two on primary night, this race will raise his name recognition and profile enough that perhaps he could be convinced to run for a seat on the Santa Ana city council. And if elected, even if he should fail to get a single item passed, count on Paco to voice his concerns from the dais in a manner that other council members might find dangerous to the status quo.
NEWS BREAK: MICHELE MARTINEZ ADMITS BEING AUTHOR OF THE PROPOSAL TO WEAKEN THE SANTA ANA MUNICIPAL CODE RESTRICTIONS ON PAY TO PLAY!
Michele ran for council on the platform of imposing term limits on the Mayor; She flipped in three months and voted instead to extend her own term limits from 2 to 3 terms.
Michele only wants one thing: to further her political career. She has no ethicality whatsoever.
It’s easy for Barragan to criticize the donors of his opponents when Barragan won’t disclose his own donors!
Where is Barragan’s disclosure report?
What makes you think that he has enough donations to require a disclosure? I don’t see the scandal here.
(To the first commenter: “ethics” is the word you want.)
Greg:
Either works, but thanks for the grammar input. And you are correct (as to the disclosure commentary): I do not believe Paco has hit the threshold for reporting, and is most certainly unlikely to do so. He is kind of like a Ralph Nadar candidate: in it for having a voice in the debate (or in 69th AD race, lack thereof thanks to Daly and Martinez), but any impact he will have on the race is to put a less than savory candidate in office by drawing votes away from the viable contender that is not part of the Santa Ana political machinery that spews forth Jose Solorio and other such charming (and hopefully soon to be extinct) political animals.
As to the grammmar point, I refer you to Merriam Webster – note the NOUN form of ethicality below:
eth·i·cal (th-kl)
adj.
1. Of, relating to, or dealing with ethics.
2. Being in accordance with the accepted principles of right and wrong that govern the conduct of a profession. See Synonyms at moral.
3. Of or relating to a drug dispensed solely on the prescription of a physician.
n.
An ethical drug.
——————————————————————————–
ethi·cal·ly adv.
ethi·cal·ness, ethi·cali·ty (-kl-t) n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
It’s not a scandal, but can Barragan fundraise in a way that isn’t subject to criticism?
If Paco is not going to fundraise, then it seems unfair for him to be throwing out potshots while others are actually trying to put together the resources to win an election.
@ It’s a Secret:
Money buys you brochures and hopefully after 4-6 mailers, it gets you a vote.
People get you the people, and more likely the votes, especially if one is focused on solutions like I am. And this is why I have been focused on the people to people connections.
Since I have been implementing solutions in the community and creating opportunities for others for years, I am using my extensive network and also the power of the media.
For example, to increase name recognition and get out the message on community solutions, I have been using TV (last 3 months appeared 4 times), radio (over 5 times), print (many times especially in weekly Spanish media – combined over 100,000 distribution weekly) and online media (various sources – often and continuously).
So I am focused on winning for our district and our state, using alternative campaign resources where I am not beholden or limited by the wishes of narrow special interests, which are counter to our community’s needs.
Francisco Paco Barragan
For Assembly 2012 – 69th AD
Business, Veterans, Community leader
To Restore Our Future Now!
http://www.linkedin.com/in/franciscobarragancpacia
OC Register Voter Guide – For Francisco
http://www.ocregister.com/news/-351403–.html?appSession=25594142173840&RecordID=93&PageID=3&PrevPageID=2&cpipage=1&CPIsortType=&CPIorderBy=&cbCurrentRecordPosition=1